Speaker
Description
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a versatile tool for studying biological systems from the single cell to the nanoscale. By combining tailored surface functionalization, single-cell force spectroscopy, FluidFM-based cell manipulation, and correlative AFM–confocal microscopy, we establish an experimental framework to investigate biological interfaces and microbial adhesion.
Silicon substrates with well-defined surface properties were prepared using octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) coatings [1,2,3], hydrophobin (HFBI) protein layers [1], or etching protocols that introduced nanoscale roughness [4]. These model surfaces facilitate a systematic investigation of how surface chemistry and topography govern interfacial structure, stability, and cell adhesion.
Single-cell force spectroscopy quantified the adhesion of individual Staphylococcus aureus and Shewanella oneidensis cells immobilized by either polydopamine or vacuum-based FluidFM probes. Force–distance measurements revealed species-specific and surface-dependent adhesion signatures [2,3,4], thus highlighting the importance of hydrophobicity [4] and nanoscale roughness [5] in microbial interactions.
Correlative AFM–confocal microscopy complements these measurements by linking mechanical, structural, and biochemical information. Applied to bacterial cell walls, extracellular vesicles, and hydrogel-embedded capsules, this multimodal approach provides a comprehensive view of biological interfaces and demonstrates how combining complementary techniques can reveal structure–function relationships that remain inaccessible to individual methods alone.
References:
[1] Wieland, B.; et al.: ACS Omega (2025) 10, 34, 38376–38384.
[2] Klein, E.; et al.: Scientific reports 14 (2024) 23174.
[3] Klein, E.; et al.: New BIOTECHNOLOGY 89 (2025).
[4] Spengler, C.; et al.: Nanoscale 11 (2019) 19713.
[5] Spengler, C.; et al.: Nanoscale 9 (2017) 10084.
